Car trips can turn from fun to annoying fast, especially if your little ones in the back can't get their fill of Disney Channel shows on Netflix. T-Mobile aims to solve this (and other predicaments caused by lack of Wi-Fi in your car) with the T-Mobile SyncUp DRIVE.

The SyncUp DRIVE's main selling point is a Wi-Fi hotspot for all the various devices in your car, powered by T-Mobile's 4G LTE network. There is a limit of five connected devices, but I imagine that won't be an issue for most users. The DRIVE also serves double-duty as a connected car device, allowing you to check your car's location, sending notifications for mechanical problems (based on data received through the OBD port), and other useful features.

If you're interested in buying it, the DRIVE will be available in T-Mobile stores and online starting November 18. The device will cost $149.99 USD, but will also be available free after a 24-month (2GB or higher) mobile internet plan. The unit is also carrier locked, so swapping the SIM out won't work here.

“With T-Mobile SyncUP DRIVE, you have a new way to ride on America’s fastest nationwide 4G LTE network,” said John Legere, president and CEO of T-Mobile. “We’re making it radically simple for customers to connect their cars with a complete, all-in-one package – and the best part is that we’re making it totally free at launch.”

Getting going with T-Mobile SyncUP DRIVE couldn’t be easier. It plugs in to your car’s OBD-II (on-board diagnostics) port – standard on most cars built after 1996, is always on, doesn’t require charging and can be managed right from your smartphone.

Not only can T-Mobile SyncUP DRIVE cost at least 20% less than the carriers’ solutions over two years, it also does a lot more. T-Mobile SyncUP DRIVE is the only complete 4G LTE connected car solution by a wireless provider. For example, HUM by Verizon runs on ancient 2G technology that Verizon will phase out, and HUM doesn’t even include in-vehicle Wi-Fi connectivity. In fact, you’d need multiple carrier solutions – and multiple carrier rate plans – to duplicate what T-Mobile SyncUP DRIVE does out of the box on T-Mobile’s 4G LTE network.

T-Mobile SyncUP DRIVE enables you to:

Stay connected: Deliver an in-vehicle Wi-Fi hot spot on the nation’s fastest 4G LTE network, perfect for sharing data with five Wi-Fi capable devices to entertain your family during those road trips.

Drive smarter: Analyze driving behavior to help you drive more safely, while minimizing wear-and-tear, by keeping track of dangerous driving behavior like speeding, harsh braking and rapid accelerations; or, to help you save money on fuel. And, companies can make tracking and expensing business miles a breeze.

Keep an eye on your family: Know the location and status of multiple cars without contacting the drivers, set speeding alerts to encourage safe driving behavior and set alerts to be notified when your car enters or leaves a certain area.

Locate your car: Keep tabs on your vehicle, from finding your parked car on a map, locating and tracking your car’s real-time driving location or delivering a notification if the device or your car has been tampered with, bumped or had the device removed.

Take care of your car: Have a virtual mechanic to help you take better care of your car and help reduce repair costs by providing helpful maintenance reminders and instant notifications about car trouble.

T-Mobile works with best-in-class partners to develop and deliver IoT (Internet of Things) solutions, and T-Mobile SyncUP DRIVE is no different. SyncUp DRIVE was developed by T-Mobile together with two key partners – ZTE, a global provider of mobile devices and telecommunication systems, and Mojio, the leading open platform for the growing ecosystem of connected car apps and services.

Limited time offer; subject to change. If you cancel wireless service, remaining balance at full price is due. For well-qualified customers. Via bill credits. Full device tax due at sale. 0% APR. Plus taxes & fees. All lines must be active and in good standing when credit is applied, may take 1-2 bill cycles. Capable smartphone, 3rd party app, and service req’d for some features.

Yeah if this was a cigarette lighter type thing I might consider it for the dieselbeast, but not putting an internet access pipe directly to my engine control - spent too much on that chip (and tuning and dyno time) to let some script kiddie screw it up for cheap thrills.

So on those long car trips where I get no tmobile reception between midsized cities, I'll now have a second device with no reception?

Paul_Werner

Haha, so much this

Gonzales

I drive from PA to Colorado (I-70) or Wisconsin (I-80) a lot and stream Spotify constantly and I have yet to drop my signal on T-Mobile

ScratchC

In some areas this is true. I travel alot between RI & PA. It used to be horrible in Connecticut. I used to download playlists. Download maps. Make any calls before certain exits lolz. Atleast in my side of the world. T-Mobile has stepped their game up tremendously. I get 4G my entire drive now. So like everything YMMV.

Hm, I may be wrong about all carriers throttling tethered data. Will edit my previous comment to mention only T-Mobile. AFAIK, in addition to the unlimited data plan, Verizon charges $30/mo or so for a limited amount of tethered data, right?

T4rd

No, on their UDP plan, you can pay $30/month for an additional unlimited tethering plan, which is pointless on any non-Verizon branded unlocked phone (like a Nexus 6P/5X or Moto X Pure) or any rooted phone since you can bypass that tethering plan check pretty easily. But now they threaten to kill your service if you exceed 100GBs, but I have yet to see anyone test or verify that yet.

bzandy

This is only partially true. While the new "One" plan does include throttled tethered data, any other of their plans with tethering does not. I have the 2 lines for 100/month plan, and it comes with 14GB of full high speed tethered data for each line.

I don't think so. You might want to connect your device to it and run a full diagnostic.
If you're having trouble, tmobile will provide you a syncup drive for free with two year contract.

SufferinJaysus

Back to mom's basement Sonny.

Bruce Wayne

Joke flew right over your head.

SufferinJaysus

Aren't jokes usually funny?

Bruce Wayne

Not always.

SufferinJaysus

"
a thing that someone says to cause amusement or laughter, especially a story with a funny punchline."

Bruce Wayne

True but what's funny for one isn't always funny for the other.

motoridersd

My car's OBDII port is in the worst location, any dongle blocks entrance into the driver's side. Thanks Germany.

blacksmith_tb

Not to mention there are quite a few car insurance plans that require you to keep their logger plugged in to your OBDII port (and of course you might want to use a BT adapter and something like Torque to log data yourself).

René Marquardt

But... my phone already let's me tether?

ScratchC

This is most likely aimed at those individuals without unlimited plans. That have big families. That travel or spend a lot of their time commuting. Sure, Your device already tethers and that's fine if it fits your needs.
A dedicated device like this will give you better speeds and a more consistent signal (in theory). Also I'd personally prefer everyone connecting to a dedicated hotspot than to my phone for Wi-Fi access every time.

This is more for those times you're on a long trip or long morning commute where the kids may not have unlimited data plans but want to surf the web and watch videos or download games.
Other uses for this? Connecting a dash integrated tablet. Connecting a media player in car (Think Chromecast, Roku, Apple Airplay etc..) Connecting a business laptop for an employee on the road etc. etc...

So you have to think Mobile workstation or Mobile media hub, Via a dedicated hotspot in your vehicle. That allows for diagnostics and integration of media devices to function in your car without the need of your phone.
Now if you're the type of person that just throws your phone in a air vent holder. Puts on Pandora and occasionally uses Google Maps, Waze or whatever. If that works for you and have no other ambitions. This hotspot isn't for you.

Im not defending Tmobile here. Just open to all the possibilities of an in car Hotspot.

Dylan Wentworth

Is this an April fools joke?!

You plug it into your odb2 port so it can monitor your vehicle's location?! And let you keep track of dangerous driving behavior!? And give you maintenance reminders!?